The Effect of Acute High-Altitude Exposure on Oral Pathogenic Bacteria and Salivary Oxi-Inflammatory Markers.

The environment can alter the homeostasis of humans and human microbiota. Oral health is influenced by high altitude through symptoms of periodontitis, barodontalgia, dental barotrauma, and a decrease in salivary flow. Microbiota and inflammatory state are connected in the oral cavity. This study aimed to explore the effect of acute high-altitude exposure on the salivary microbiome and inflammatory indicators. Fifteen healthy expeditioners were subjected to oral examination, recording the plaque index (PII), gingival index (GI), the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), and the number of teeth; unstimulated saliva samples were collected at an altitude of 1191 m (T1) and 4556 m (T2). TNF-α, sICAM1, ROS, and the oral bacterial species () and () were quantified. At T2, slCAM, TNF, and ROS increased by 85.5% (IQR 74%), 84% (IQR 409.25%), and 53.5% (IQR 68%), respectively, while decreased by 92.43% (IQR 102.5%). The decrease in was greater in the presence of low OHI-S. The increase in slCAM1 correlated with the reduction in . Individuals with high GI and OHI-S had a limited increase in TNF-α at T2. Short-term exposures can affect the concentration of pathogenic periodontal bacteria and promote local inflammation.